California Chrome finishes 4th in Belmont as Tonalist wins

Still no Crown: Chrome injures leg, finishes 4th behind Tonalist

Updated 11:53 pm, Saturday, June 7, 2014

ELMONT, N.Y. --

It was all over for California Chrome as soon as the starting gate opened in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday.

With a howling crowd of 102,199 screaming and yelling and hoping and pleading for thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown since 1978, California Chrome's wonderful rock-hard body betrayed him in the demanding 1 1/2-mile Belmont, the longest of the three races in the spring classic series.

As California Chrome, the 4-5 favorite, sprang out of the gate, his right hind leg kicked his right front leg. In this game, it's called grabbing a quarter, and it's particularly painful on the animal. In human terms, it would be comparable to ripping off a fingernail.

"Maybe that foot got to stinging him," Art Sherman, California Chrome's 77-year-old trainer, said as he walked briskly back to the barn on the Belmont backstretch. "It's just hard to run on a track when you grab your quarter. Very painful. We might have an excuse."

California Chrome, who had won six straight races, including impressive wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, could finish only fourth - in a dead heat with Wicked Strong. Despite his bad wheel, California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was beaten by only 1 3/4 lengths by the upset winner Tonalist, who won the race at 9-1 odds.

California Chrome (third from left) is flanked by Wicked Strong and Tonalist as they run down the backstretch during the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes.

California Chrome (third from left) is flanked by Wicked Strong and Tonalist as they run down the backstretch during the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Photo: Jason DeCrow, Associated Press

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ELMONT, NY - JUNE 07: Tonalist #11, ridden by Joel Rosario, races to the finish line enroute to winning the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7, 2014 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) less

ELMONT, NY - JUNE 07: Tonalist #11, ridden by Joel Rosario, races to the finish line enroute to winning the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7, 2014 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by ... more

Photo: Al Bello, Getty Images

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Edwin Collazo, of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York, wears a hat paying tribute to favorite California Chrome before the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) less

Edwin Collazo, of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York, wears a hat paying tribute to favorite California Chrome before the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP ... more

ELMONT, NY - JUNE 07: California Chrome trainer, Art Sherman walks to the barn during the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7, 2014 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) less

ELMONT, NY - JUNE 07: California Chrome trainer, Art Sherman walks to the barn during the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7, 2014 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Streeter ... more

California Chrome and Victor Espinoza (at left in purple and green) attempt to move up on the outside. The Triple Crown hopeful had to settle for fourth.

California Chrome and Victor Espinoza (at left in purple and green) attempt to move up on the outside. The Triple Crown hopeful had to settle for fourth.

Photo: Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

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California Chrome finishes 4th in Belmont as Tonalist wins

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Tonalist caught 28-1 shot Commissioner in the last jump to win the race by a head.

As exciting as the finish was, there was hardly any sound being made from the mob that had stuffed Belmont Park. The reason they had come to New York by planes and trains and automobiles was to see a run at history. Affirmed was the last horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same spring. California Chrome becomes the 13th horse since 1978 to come to the Belmont with a chance to win the Triple Crown. All of them failed. I'll Have Another scratched in 2012.

"This is the 13th excuse," trainer Dale Romans, whose Medal Count finished third, said as he walked through the paddock when the day was done. "Something is always happening. It just shows you how hard it is to win the Triple Crown."

After the race, Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn was bitter about horses skipping the first two legs and then stealing the Belmont. Six of the past eight Belmont winners did just that.

"That's the coward's way out," he said. "It's not fair to these horses that have been in the game since day one. If you don't make enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby, you can't run in the other two races. It's all or nothing."

Sherman didn't know something was wrong with the horse until after the race. That's when the bloody gash could be seen on California Chrome's front right leg. When California Chrome was walked back to his barn after a stop in the test barn, was he showing a slight limp? Maybe.

Sherman had figured that if California Chrome was right, he would have been spurting away from the other 10 Belmont horses heading into the stretch. That burst of acceleration never came.

"He was kind of hanging with them," Sherman said. "I said, 'Uh-oh,' he doesn't have that kick today."

Tonalist, a fresh and rested horse, last ran and won the Peter Pan Stakes over the same Belmont dirt on May 10, with Commissioner finishing second.

Saturday, Tonalist ran the distance in 2:28.52 and paid $20.40, $9.60 and $7.

Commissioner returned $23.20 and $13.20, and Medal Count was another length back in third and paid $13.20 to show.

Trainer Billy Gowan, whose Ride On Curlin was supposed to challenge California Chrome after finishing second to him in the Preakness, never showed up. He was eased at the quarter pole. Gowan marveled at how gutsy California Chrome was despite his injury.

"That dang sure could have cost him" the race, Gowan said. "I've seen horses pull up after that. Shows you how much heart he's got."

California Chrome came up short in his bid to be a thoroughbred immortal. And now the Triple Crown drought will be 37 years next year.

"It's been a hell of a run," Sherman said. "We won the Derby and the Preakness. I can see why this is the toughest race to win in the Triple Crown. You have to have an extra-special horse to do it and everything has to go just right."

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